I wanted to come up with a list of 15 beginner-friendly shipwrecks that one can visit in Ontario. That led me to realize that all the wrecks were too far apart because Ontario is pretty big. So, I decided to make a list of 15 wrecks that you can visit on a weekend trip. These wrecks will provide for a lot of diving on a weekend, with 3 dives on a Saturday and two dives on a Sunday before the drive home. I’ll provide links to dive shops offering weekend trips to this location.
Beginner wreck, I mean Open water certified divers, are qualified to dive these wrecks. Open water divers have a max depth resting of 60 ft. Even though some of these wrecks are much deeper than 60 ft, they will all have super strucker that you can enjoy and explore above to 60 feet.
Still making it worth visiting, if you want to know what it takes to get your advanced open water certification, CLICK HERE.
I personally have dove all the wreck I am recommending in Tobermory, but I definitely still need to visit the other two locations as I have only heard good things about Penetanguashene, Ontario and Kingston, Ontario.
Tobermory is a quaint tourist town located approximately 4 hours from Toronto; from May 20 ( Queen Victory Day weekend) through to September Labour Day weekend, you can get a daily charter boat out to Many of the Wreck available in Fathom Fathom Five National Park. To dive in the national park, you will need a day or weekend pass from the Divers Den Dive shop or the Bruice visitor center.
The Main dive shop in town hosting the charters is Divers Den
If you are looking for an all-inclusive weekend with diving accommodations and diving, check out my local Dive shop, Dan Dive Shop. They host multiple trips to Tobermory called Tobermory Dive Extravaganza. CLICK HERE
Tobermory Ontario Canada
Sweepstakes (schooner)
Built: Burlington, Ontario 1867
Length:36.3m (119 ft)
Depth: maximum depth 7m (20 ft)
Photo Credit: Jerzy Kowalczuk https://www.underwaterpixels.com/index
City of Grand Rapids (steamer)
Built: Grand Haven, Michigan,1879
Length: 37.3 (122.5 ft)
Depth: maximum depth 5m (15ft)
Photo Credit: Vlada Dekin https://www.wrecksandreefs.com/CGR.html
The Tug (at least 4 wrecks in one location)
Depth: maximum 13 m (40 ft)
Wreckage of four small steam tugs. (Alice G, Robert K, John & Alex, unidentified)
Photo Credit: Jerzy Kowalczuk https://www.underwaterpixels.com/index
Built: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia 1940
Length: 39.6m (132 ft)
Depth: maximum depth 16.5m (55ft)
Photo Credit: Jerzy Kowalczuk https://www.underwaterpixels.com/index
Niagara II (tanker then sand sucker)
Built:Haveton HIll-on-tees, England 1930
Length 55.5m (182ft)
Depth 28m (90ft)
Penetanguishene Ontario Shipwrecks
Penetanguishene is a picture harbour town on the southeastern tip of Georgian Bay. I mentioned earlier that I haven’t dove these wrecks yet, but hopefully, I’ll be able to in the summer of 2024. For wrecks at open water depths, they all look like really nice wrecks to experience as there are a lot of superstructures to explore with tonnes of features. Here are my 5 picks for Penetanguishene.
If you are looking for a thoroughly planned trip, my local dive shop, Dan Dive Shop, puts on a trip every year to Penetanguishene, Ontario. CLICK HERE
The Michigan
Built: Bay City, Michigan 1890
Length:297 ft
Depth: 5-20ft
Photo Credit Rick Rogers https://divertrek.com/diving-penetanguishene-ontario/
Marquette
Built: Cleveland 1890
Length:350
Depth 35 ft
Photo Credit: Vlada Dekina https://www.wrecksandreefs.com/wolfe.htm
Thomas Cranage
Suck set 25 1911
Lenght:305
Depth:15-55
Photo Credit: David Mekker https://www.niagaradivers.com/divesites/pentang.html
Maple Dawn
Built:1890
Length: 349 ft
Depth: 10-30 ft
Photo Credit: Rick Rogers https://divertrek.com/diving-penetanguishene-ontario/
Kingston Ontario Shipwrecks
Kingston ontario is the city on the Lake, located and the mouth of St Lawerenc river meeting lake Ontario. Locationg approximately 2 hours from Toronto Ontario. This is a historic place. Which is why there are some amazing wrecks there. Here are my picks for five wrecks to visit as an open water diver in Kingston Ontario.
My local dive shop Dan Dive Shop host a trip to the Kingstion area wrecks if you would like more information CLICK HERE.
Wolfe Islander II (Steel Ferry)
Built:1946
Length:144f
Depth:40-85 ft
Photo Credit: Vlada Dekin https://www.wrecksandreefs.com/wolfe.htm
Side-wheeler Cornwall
Build:1855
Length:176ft
Depth:70ft
Photo Credit: Vlada Dekin https://www.wrecksandreefs.com/cornwall.htm
Aloha & Effie Mae(schooner Barge)
Built: Mt Clement, Michigan 1888
Length:171
Depth: 60ft
Photo Credit: https://patsdivecharters.com/the-aloha-effie-mae/
Comet (paddle wheeler)
Built:1848
Length:175ft
Depth:75ft
Photo Credit: Vlada Dekin https://www.wrecksandreefs.com/comet.htm
George A. Marsh
Built: Michigan City Indian 1882
Length 135ft
Depth 85 ft on the bottom
Photo Credit: Rick Rogers https://divertrek.com/kingston-lake-ontario-june-7-2014/
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